CONTACT:
Molly Belmont, Director of Marketing
Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Phone: 518-434-1217 x 203
Email: mbelmont@albany.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2017
Visiting Athletes Pump $1.3 Million into Albany Economy
Sporting events mean big business for Albany
ALBANY, NY - Today the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACCVB) welcomes thousands of visitors to Albany as part of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association's 2017 High School Wrestling Championships, held February 23-25. These high school athletes, coaches, and their families, will bring more than $1.3 million in spending to the area.
Hundreds of high school wrestlers will compete on the floor of the Times Union Center Arena this week, bringing many families to Albany hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and attractions. This event generates nearly 1,500 contracted room nights at the Albany Marriott, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Albany and filling other hotels with families and wrestling enthusiasts.
According to the Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) Event Impact Calculator, a tool that measures the economic value of an event and calculates its return to local taxes, the weekend wrestling championship will account for:
• 1,556 room nights at area hotels throughout Albany County
• $794,476 in direct spending at hotels, the Times Union Center, etc.
• $535,612 in indirect spending at gas stations, restaurants, etc.
• $70,063 in local tax revenue for Albany County
"This week demonstrates an ongoing commitment on the part of the bureau to book sporting business," says Michele Vennard, President/CEO of the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau. "With the completion of the Albany Capital Center, and the renovations to the Times Union Center, and our strong college facilities, we offer a competitive destination for sporting events and tournaments, and that means big business for Albany." NYSPHSAA has held their event in Albany since 2009, and contract that extends to 2018.
Throughout the year, the Albany area will welcome more than 22 different sporting events and meetings to hotels and conference centers, including MAAC Basketball Championships, Northstar Capital City Lacrosse Tournament, CrossFit Games, and the 2017 Special Olympics Summer Games.
The Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. was established in 1976 to promote the civic and commercial progress of the community through increased development of conventions and tourism. ACCVB currently represents more than 300 member businesses and assists each year in hundreds of regional meetings. ACCVB also operates the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center, Henry Hudson Planetarium, and the Albany International Airport Information Center. For more information, call 518-434-1217 or 800-258-3582 or visit www.albany.org.